The recent wave of protests outside hotels housing asylum-seekers has laid bare the fragility of social cohesion in the UK. Sparked by the charging of a hotel resident with sexual assault, the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, became a flashpoint – drawing hundreds of demonstrators and counter-protesters to its doors and the town hall.

Explore highlights from our recent conference, Cohesion challenges and opportunities in 2025 and beyond.

A new report from Belong and British Future released today (15 July) – one year on from last summer’s riots – warns that urgent action is needed to prevent unrest being reignited.

Over the last six months the Belong Network has been holding ‘honest conversations’ with some Tamworth residents, community groups and workers with different agencies.

We are pleased to announce that Belong has been commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA) to write new national guidance and develop training aimed at supporting community cohesion. 

Join us on Tuesday 20 May for the online launch of ‘Parallel Lives’, our new joint research project into the drivers of interethnic contact with the Universities of East Anglia, Oxford and Bristol.